THE BEST IN BEAUTY FROM THOSE WHO KNOW BEST

VIOLET GREY began with our search for the best eyelash curler. To find the answer, we formed a band of inside-Hollywood experts and editors — from makeup artists to movie stars — to test every eyelash curler against our rigorous set of standards (the VIOLET CODE). We tested on film sets, on red carpets, and in the back of Jack Nicholson’s limousine — and once we learned which curler would make our lashes curve and not crimp (Utowa, it’s from Japan), we moved on to mascara, lip stain, dry shampoo, and everything else a girl needs in her cosmetic wardrobe. On any given day, we are discovering, testing, and approving best-in-class beauty. The result is a discerning curation of products, tips, and inspiration deemed essential — the Industry’s Beauty Edit.

Charlotte
tilbury
superstar lips inpillow talk

A new gloss-lipstick hybrid is irresistible in a universally flattering shade—and earning unanimous praise from our (extremely discerning) testers.

Written By ANNIE TOMLIN

DISCOVERED

Considered by many to be the perfect universal lipstick shade, Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk has become a global makeup phenomenon. The legendary hue debuted in 2013, when Tilbury released a lip liner in a rosy, your-lips-but-better hue. Her intention was to create a "suits-all" shade, and indeed, it has a seemingly magical quality of looking gorgeous on people of all ages, skin tones, and aesthetics.

A pinky-nude hue that actually flatters a wide variety of skin tones, Pillow Talk quickly became a word-of-mouth sensation among fellow makeup artists, their supermodel and A-list actress clients, beauty editors, and pretty much everyone else who fell in love with its lip-enhancing properties. A proper lipstick followed in 2017, lending a soft, pillowy, velvety finish to lips in one quick swipe. Most recently, Pillow Talk pink appeared on the lips of Michelle Williams, Busy Philipps, and Salma Hayek at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards—proving that this dreamy pink has plenty of staying power.

Now, the makeup maven is unveiling her iconic shade in an entirely new—and, it must be said, pretty damned genius—formulation called Superstar Lips. It applies like the silkiest lipstick, feels like a moisturizing balm, and imparts an impressively luminous shine. The cushiony texture is courtesy of ingredients you'd normally expect to find in skin care, such as deeply hydrating hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration and peptides to encourage baby-soft skin. It's also made with diamond powder—as in, actual crushed diamonds—to add subtle shimmer. (Here, the sparkle factor is more "my Oscars red-carpet moment," not a Studio 54 glitter explosion.) And though it should go without saying, the color looks absolutely phenomenal on lips; it's the rare combination of color, texture, and finish that earned it a 100% approval rating from our esteemed panel of makeup artists.

In short, this dreamy hue lives up to the hype—which explains why it has become one of the best-selling lip colors in the world. Remarkably, one Pillow Talk product now sells every 30 seconds. With the debut of Superstar Lips, Charlotte Tilbury's resident number-crunchers should be prepared to update that stat, stat.

TESTED

"One of my favorite lip liner shades has been reborn as a high-shine lipstick. Its sheer, deep pinky-nude color and luscious glossy finish makes it flattering for a wide range of complexions." —Robin Black, makeup artist

"The other formulas of Pillow Talk are such instant classics! This texture is a very welcomed addition." —Molly Greenwald, makeup artist

"I love the texture of this lipstick—it’s like a slick balm. Best of all, there’s no stickiness." —Hannah Biddle, makeup artist

"As soon as I applied this Pillow Talk lipstick, I was in love. It has a very slim design, which is perfect for putting in a clutch or pocket." —Veronica Sinclair, makeup artist

APPROVED

As with every product on VIOLET GREY, the Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips in Pillow Talk reached our shelves once a minimum of 70 percent of testers deemed it a winner. At that time, we added the staple to our makeup edit with the Violet Code's official stamp of approval.

VIOLET CODE
APPROVED

The VIOLET CODE is a process and set of standards by which VIOLET GREY’s committee of beauty industry experts and influencers separate hero products from the tens of thousands of options available to you on the market. The result is a curation that is truly the best in beauty from those who know best.